Manchester City were given an almighty scare by Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, but a late Rodri strike meant they secured a 2-1 triumph.
It looked like it was going to be one of those days for the champions as a system malfunction meant the Nordic machine, Erling Haaland, missed a penalty in the opening period. However, the striker eventually grabbed his goal which gave the visitors the lead in the second half.
Out of nothing, though, the hosts responded through substitute Jayden Bogle, who finished superbly to draw the Blades level with five minutes remaining. However, City swiftly came again with Rodri thumping home quite brilliantly to restore their lead.
How the game unfolded
The dynamic of the contest was predictable pre-match, with City monopolising possession against a spirited and deep Sheffield Utd block. Paul Heckingbottom’s side made life difficult for the visitors, but they offered little to no attacking threat in the first half as City’s backline masterfully dealt with the Blades’ minimal transition threat.
Nevertheless, the hosts were able to keep City at bay, even if they did ride their luck in the first half. Nathan Ake had an effort ruled out for offside before Haaland was denied by the post from the penalty spot.
The Cityzens’ pressure was relentless either side of the break, but the Blades held firm. After Wes Foderingham smartly denied Haaland and Julian Alvarez on the hour, the former atoned for his penalty miss by nodding home the opener from close range following some good work from Jack Grealish to work the opening.
It appeared as if City would then coast to victory, but they failed to put the game to bed which offered the hosts a route back into the contest. Bogle made the visitors pay for failing to clear when he drove home an equaliser from inside the box, but the Blades were on level terms for just a few minutes as City came again and bagged a second through Rodri, whose strike was stunning.
The visitors then managed the contest in typical City fashion as the hosts failed to get on the ball during the seven minutes of stoppage time. The Cityzens’ win means they’re the only side in the Premier League to have won their opening three games as they moved to the top of the table.
GK: Wes Foderingham – 8/10 – It was a barrage in the second half, and Foderingham was excellent. Nothing he could do to deny City scoring twice.
RWB: George Baldock – 5/10 – Kept Grealish quiet for the first 30 minutes, but the City winger then had his way with the Sheffield Utd wing-back. Booked just before half-time for a silly challenge.
CB: Anel Ahmedhodzic – 7/10 – Relished the duel with Haaland and had some success matching up against the City superstar. Physically impressive.
CB: John Egan – 5/10 – Egan’s handball handed City a first half penalty, but he stuck to his task pretty well throughout.
CB: Jack Robinson – 6/10 – Impressed with his distribution, but City had success exploiting the space in behind Robinson throughout the contest.
LWB: Ben Osborn – N/A – Forced off in the opening exchanges.
CM: Vinicius Souza – 4/10 – Pretty anonymous. Worked hard like the rest of his teammates, but occasionally overcommitted when he tried to cover Baldock. Booked for a cynical foul late on.
CM: Ollie Norwood – 7/10 – The veteran midfielder did a pretty good job in the middle of the park, screening his defence astutely. Was often the man to kick-start his side’s counter-attacking sequences thanks to his distribution.
CM: Gustavo Hamer – 6/10 – A live wire in the middle of the park. Hamer couldn’t get into the game with the ball, but he tried to support the front two when possible.
ST: William Osula – 4/10 – The Blades needed more from Osula, who struggled to hold the ball up or win his aerial duels on the rare occasions when the ball was launched up to him.
ST: Benie Traore – 6/10 – A spritely showing. If Sheffield Utd were to create something in the final third, it looked like it would’ve come through Traore.
Substitutes
Yasser Larouci (17′ for Osborn) – 5/10 – Struggled defensively and offered the occasional thrust forward.
Jayden Bogle (71′ for Baldock) – 7/10 – Lovely finish.
Oli McBurnie (71′ for Osula) – 6/10 – Offered more than Osula, came close from a set-piece.
Chris Basham (80′ for Norwood) – 5/10 – The veteran came on late.
Subs not used: Adam Davies (GK), Aaron Trusty, Ismaila Coulibaly, Louie Marsh, Andre Brooks.
Manager
Paul Heckingbottom – 7/10 – His set-up kept his side in the contest, with the Blades having no choice but to defend deep in a bid to contain the supreme visitors. Subs had an impact, too.
GK: Ederson – 5/10 – Barely involved despite conceding.
RB: Kyle Walker – 7/10 – City’s set-up handed Walker plenty of freedom to advance into the final third, and he was a very handy outlet throughout. Delivery into the box was often superb. Poor for Bogle’s goal, but response was excellent.
CB: Ruben Dias – 7/10 – Had no issues dealing with Sheffield Utd on the counter, and offered himself in the final third, too. His aggression aided City’s counter-press.
CB: Nathan Ake – 7/10 – Like Dias, Ake was rarely troubled, but the Dutchman masterfully dealt with the Blades’ threat whenever they ventured into City’s half.
LB: Josko Gvardiol – 7/10 – Very little to do defensively, but Gvardiol’s work with the ball was crisp throughout. Very assured.
CM: Rodri – 8/10 – With the hosts happy to cede territory, Rodri’s average position was deep in the opposition’s half. The Spaniard was pinpoint in possession, showing off his ability to combine in more advanced areas which eventually paid dividends as he bagged City’s winner.
CM: Mateo Kovacic – 7/10 – An efficient showing. Kovacic ticked things over and he had a couple of majestic ball-carrying sequences.
AM: Julian Alvarez – 7/10 – An exhibition in off-the-ball movement. Alvarez was a thorn in the Blades’ block as a result of his crafty darts across and in behind Sheffield Utd’s defence. Wasteful in front of goal.
RW: Bernardo Silva – 7/10 – A magician in tight spaces, Bernardo relentlessly probed but not everything came off.
ST: Erling Haaland – 6/10 – It was quite the afternoon for Haaland, who was perhaps thrown off somewhat by the physicality of Sheffield Utd’s back three. He was hardly efficient in front of goal despite scoring, and he struggled at times to retain possession in the final third.
LW: Jack Grealish – 8/10 – It took some time for the wide man to get into the contest, but Grealish was superb for the remaining hour or so. Did brilliantly to set up Haaland’s goal.
Substitutes
Phil Foden (86′ for Mateo Kovacic) – 6/10 – Some lovely touches. A surprise omission from the starting XI.
Subs not used: Stefan Ortega (GK), Kalvin Phillips, Jeremy Doku, Sergio Gomez, Oscar Bobb, Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis, James McAtee.
Manager
Juanma Lillo – 6/10 – Stepping in for the absent Pep Guardiola, Lillo let the boys do their thing. Didn’t venture into the manager’s box once, I don’t believe.
Player of the match – Rodri
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